Packaging apparatus, packaging method, packaging system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a packaging apparatus ( 1 ) capable of adjusting the thickness of a package with a simple configuration. The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) is a packaging apparatus that manufactures a package (B) wherein articles to be packaged, such as foodstuffs, and gas are sealed in a bag, and comprises a cooling unit ( 6 ). The cooling unit ( 6 ) cools the gas sent to a tubular film (F) formed in a bag shape. The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) manufactures the package (B) wherein the gas, having a temperature lower than the outside air, and the articles to be packaged are sealed.

This application is the National Phase of International ApplicationPCT/JP03/09558 filed on Jul. 28, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus, a packagingmethod, and a packaging system.

RELATED ART

There are packaging apparatuses that fill and package articles to bepackaged, such as foodstuffs, in flexible packaging material. Forexample, in a vertical pillow-type packaging apparatus, a formertubularly forms flexible packaging material, such as sheet film, and alongitudinal sealing mechanism seals (thermoseals) the overlappingvertical edges of the tubular packaging material. Furthermore, articlesto be packaged are fed into the tubular packaging material through atube, a transverse sealing mechanism arranged below the tubetransversely seals across the upper part of the bag and the lower partof the following bag, after which a cutter cuts the center of thetransverse seal portion. In this manner, the vertical pillow-typepackaging apparatus manufactures a package wherein the articles to bepackaged are sealed.

In such a packaging apparatus, there are cases in which the package isfilled with gas, such as nitrogen or argon, along with the articles tobe packaged in order to preserve the articles to be packaged.Furthermore, in such a case, the thickness of the package is oftenadjusted from a standpoint of convenience when packing the packages inboxes. For example, the packaging apparatus disclosed in JapanesePublished Patent Application No. Hei 11-171110 is provided with an airbleeder plate, and the thickness of the package being manufactured isadjusted by the air bleeder plate removing a portion of the gas bypressing on both sides of the packaging material.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

However, in the abovementioned type of packaging apparatus, a mechanismis needed to remove the gas, such as a mechanism that adjusts theposition of the air bleeder plate and the air bleeder plate.Consequently, this tends to further complicate the structure of thepackaging apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a packagingapparatus that, with a simple configuration, can adjust the thickness ofa package.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the first aspect of the presentinvention is a packaging apparatus that manufactures a package wherein afoodstuff article to be packaged and an inert gas are sealed in apackaging material. The packaging apparatus includes an introducing unitthrough which the article to be packaged and the gas are supplied to thepackaging material formed in a tubular shape, and a first sealingmechanism that seals the tubular packaging material to manufacture apackage containing the article and the gas. The package is manufacturedin which a gas has a temperature lower than the outside air, when thegas and the article to be packaged are sealed.

In this packaging apparatus, a package is manufactured wherein a gashaving a temperature different from the outside air and articles to bepackaged are sealed. Consequently, the thickness of the package can beadjusted by expanding or shrinking the sealed air, which is affected bythe temperature of the outside air. For example, if the temperature ofthe sealed gas is lower than the outside air, the temperature of the gasrises with the passage of time. Furthermore, the thickness of thepackage can be increased by expanding the gas. Conversely, if thetemperature of the sealed gas is higher than the outside air, thetemperature of the gas falls with the passage of time. Furthermore, thethickness of the package can be decreased by reducing the volume of thegas. Thus, according to this packaging apparatus, the thickness of apackage can be adjusted by adjusting the temperature of the sealed gas.Thereby, according to this packaging apparatus, the thickness of the bagcan be adjusted with a simple configuration.

Furthermore, the means for making the temperature of the sealed gas atemperature that differs from the outside air is not limited to a meanswherein the temperature of the sealed gas is directly adjusted to atemperature that differs from the outside air, and includes a means thatindirectly adjusts the temperature of the gas by transmitting to thesealed gas the temperature of the flexible packaging material, thearticle to be packaged, and the like, by adjusting that temperature.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the second aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging apparatus as recited in the first aspect ofthe present invention, comprising a gas temperature modifying unit thatchanges a temperature of a gas.

In this packaging apparatus, a package can be manufactured, wherein agas having a temperature different from the outside air is sealed, bythe gas temperature modifying unit changing the temperature of the gas.Consequently, the thickness of the package can be adjusted by expandingor shrinking the sealed gas, which is affected by the temperature of theoutside air. Thereby, according to this packaging apparatus, thethickness of the bag can be adjusted with a simple configuration forchanging the temperature of the gas.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the third aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging apparatus as recited in the second aspect ofthe present invention, in which the gas temperature modifying unitchanges the temperature of the gas by changing the temperature of thearticle to be packaged.

In this packaging apparatus, the temperature of the gas can beindirectly changed by changing the temperature of the articles to bepackaged, which are the target objects to be packaged. For example, ifthe articles to be packaged are cooled and sealed together with the gas,then the gas, which is affected by the temperature of the articles to bepackaged, is cooled. Furthermore, the thickness of the package decreasesbecause the volume of the cooled gas decreases. Thus, according to thispackaging apparatus, the thickness of the package can be adjusted with asimple configuration for changing the temperature of the articles to bepackaged.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the fourth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging apparatus as recited in the second aspect ofthe present invention, in which the gas temperature modifying unitchanges the temperature of the gas by changing the temperature of theflexible packaging material.

In this packaging apparatus, the temperature of the gas can beindirectly changed by changing the temperature of the flexible packagingmaterial. For example, if the flexible packaging material is cooled,then the internally sealed gas, which is affected by the temperature ofthe flexible packaging material, is cooled. Therefore, the thickness ofthe package decreases because the volume of the cooled gas decreases.Thus, the thickness of the package can be adjusted with a simpleconfiguration for changing the temperature of the flexible packagingmaterial.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the fifth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging apparatus as recited in the second aspect ofthe present invention, in which the gas temperature modifying unitchanges the temperature of the gas by changing the temperature of theintroducing unit.

In this packaging apparatus, the gas temperature modifying unit changesthe temperature of the introducing unit. Because the gas is introducedinside the flexible packaging material by the introducing unit, thetemperature of the gas, which is affected by the temperature of theintroducing unit when introduced, changes. Thereby, this packagingapparatus can manufacture a package wherein a gas having a temperaturedifferent from the outside air is sealed.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the sixth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging apparatus as recited in the first aspect ofthe present invention, comprising a forming unit and a gas temperaturemodifying unit. The forming unit tubularly forms the flexible packagingmaterial. The gas temperature modifying unit changes the temperature ofthe gas by changing the temperature of the forming unit.

In this packaging apparatus, the gas temperature modifying unit changesthe temperature of the forming unit. Because the gas is introducedinside the flexible packaging material by the forming unit, thetemperature of the gas, which is affected by the temperature of theforming unit, changes if the temperature of the forming unit changes.Thereby, this packaging apparatus can manufacture a package wherein agas having a temperature different from the outside air is sealed.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the seventh aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging apparatus as recited in any one of the firstthrough sixth aspects of the present invention, further comprising acontrol unit that controls the temperature and amount of the gas in thesealed package.

In this packaging apparatus, the control unit controls the temperatureand quantity of the gas sealed in the package. Consequently, accordingto this packaging apparatus, the volume of the gas after expansion orshrinkage can be automatically regulated. Thereby, this packagingapparatus can automatically adjust the thickness of the package.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the eighth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging apparatus as recited in any one of the firstthrough seventh aspects of the present invention, wherein the gas sealedinside the sealed package has a temperature lower than that of theoutside air.

In packaging apparatuses, it is often the case that a package ismanufactured leaving some margin in the inflation of the package,without inflating the package to its maximum during its manufacture.This is because it is easier to manufacture a package if some margin isallowed in the inflation of the package. On the other hand, if somemargin is allowed in the inflation of the package, there is a problem inthat the inflation of the completed package is inadequate.

However, in this packaging apparatus, the gas sealed in the flexiblepackaging material has a temperature lower than the outside air, and thetemperature thereof consequently rises and the package expands with thepassage of time. Consequently, even if a small margin is allowed in theinflation of the package during its manufacture, the package can beadequately inflated by expanding the gas inside the package after it iscompleted. Thereby, according to this packaging apparatus, the packagecan be adequately inflated after manufacture while still making thepackage easy to manufacture.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the ninth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging apparatus as recited in the first aspect ofthe present invention, further comprising a sealing unit and a pair ofironing parts. The sealing unit hermetically seals the flexiblepackaging material by sealing the flexible packaging material tubularlyformed. The pair of ironing parts irons the portion of the packagingmaterial to be sealed, and the vicinity thereof.

In the packaging apparatus comprising ironing parts, the unfortunateentangling of the articles to be packaged and the like in the portion tobe sealed can be reduced by ironing the portion of the flexiblepackaging material to be sealed, etc. However, in this case, because aportion of the gas in the flexible packaging material unfortunatelyescapes due to the ironing, it is often problematic to adequatelyinflate the package.

However, in this packaging apparatus, because a package sealed with agas having a temperature lower than the outside air is manufactured, thegas inside the package after manufacture expands, and the package can beadequately inflated even if a portion of the gas escapes due to theironing. Thereby, in this packaging apparatus, the package can beadequately inflated while reducing the incidence of unfortunateentangling of the articles to be packaged and the like in the portion tobe sealed, and the like.

The packaging apparatus as recited in the tenth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging apparatus as recited in the first aspect ofthe present invention, further comprising a transporting unit and asecond sealing unit. The transporting unit transports the flexiblepackaging material tubularly formed downward. The second sealing unitseals a longitudinal edge, parallel to the transport direction, of thetransported tubular packaging material. The first sealing unit seals theflexible packaging material in the transverse direction, which isperpendicular to the transport direction.

The packaging method as recited in the eleventh aspect of the presentinvention is a packaging method for manufacturing a package whereinarticles to be packaged and a gas are sealed in a flexible packagingmaterial, including steps of providing a tubular packaging material,supplying the article to be packaged in the tubular packaging material,supplying the gas in the tubular packaging material, sealing the tubularpackaging material to manufacture a package containing the article andthe gas, and changing a temperature of the gas before or after thesupplying of the gas in the tubular packaging material, such that thegas has a temperature different from the outside air, when the gas andthe article to be packaged are sealed.

In this packaging method, a package is manufactured wherein a gas havinga temperature different from the outside air and the articles to bepackaged are sealed. Consequently, the thickness of the package can beadjusted by expanding or shrinking the sealed gas, which is affected bythe temperature of the outside air. For example, if the temperature ofthe sealed gas is lower than the outside air, the temperature of the gasrises with the passage of time. Furthermore, the thickness of thepackage can be increased by expanding the gas. Conversely, if thetemperature of the sealed gas is higher than the outside air, then thetemperature of the gas falls with the passage of time. Furthermore, thethickness of the package can be decreased by decreasing the volume ofthe gas. Thus, according to this packaging method, the thickness of thepackage can be adjusted by adjusting the temperature of the sealed gas.Thereby, according to this packaging method, the thickness of a bag canbe adjusted with a simple configuration. Furthermore, the means formaking the temperature of the sealed gas a temperature different thanthe outside air is not limited to directly adjusting the temperature ofthe sealed gas to a temperature different from the outside air, and mayinclude indirectly adjusting the temperature of the gas by transmittingto the sealed gas the temperature of the flexible packaging material,the article to be packaged, and the like, by adjusting that temperature.

A packaging system as recited in the twelfth aspect of the presentinvention comprises a packaging apparatus, and a gas temperaturemodifying unit. The packaging apparatus manufactures a package wherein afoodstuff article to be packaged and an inert gas are sealed in aflexible packaging material. The packaging apparatus includes anintroducing unit through which the article to be packaged and the gasare supplied to the packaging material formed in a tubular shape; and afirst sealing mechanism that seals the tubular packaging material toproduce a package containing the article and the gas. The gastemperature modifying unit changes the temperature of the gas before thegas is sealed in the package. Further, the packaging apparatusmanufactures the package wherein the gas having a temperature lower thanthat of the outside air, and the article to be packaged are sealed.

In this packaging system, a package is manufactured wherein a gas havinga temperature different from the outside air and the articles to bepackaged are sealed. Consequently, the thickness of the package can beadjusted by expanding or shrinking the sealed gas, which is affected bythe temperature of the outside air. For example, if the temperature ofthe sealed gas is lower than the outside air, the temperature of the gasrises with the passage of time. Furthermore, the thickness of thepackage can be increased by expanding the gas. Conversely, if thetemperature of the sealed gas is higher than the outside air, thetemperature of the gas falls with the passage of time. Furthermore, thethickness of the package can be decreased by decreasing the volume ofthe gas. Furthermore, according to this packaging system, the thicknessof the package can be adjusted by adjusting the temperature of thesealed gas. Thereby, according to this packaging system, the thicknessof a bag can be adjusted with a simple configuration.

Furthermore, the gas temperature modifying unit that adjusts thetemperature of the gas before it is sealed in the package is not limitedto a means that directly adjusts the temperature of the sealed gas to atemperature different from the outside air, and also includes a meansthat indirectly adjusts the temperature of the gas by transmitting tothe sealed gas the temperature of the flexible packaging material, thearticle to be packaged, and the like, by adjusting that temperature.

The packaging system as recited in the thirteenth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging system as recited in the twelfth aspect ofthe present invention, further comprising a thermal application unit.The thermal application unit performs thermal application processing onthe manufactured package.

In this packaging system, the package can be inflated in a relativelyshort time by applying heat to a package in which cool air has beenblown during manufacture of the bag.

The packaging system as recited in the fourteenth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging system as recited in the thirteenth aspect ofthe present invention, wherein the thermal application unit has athermostatic chamber that warms the package.

In this packaging system, the package can be inflated by raising thetemperature of the gas inside the package by passing through thethermostatic chamber the package that exits the packaging apparatus.

The packaging system as recited in the fifteenth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging system as recited in the thirteenth aspect,wherein the thermal application unit blows hot air onto the package.

In this packaging system, the thermal application unit blows hot airagainst the package, and the package can therefore be easily inflated byraising the temperature of the gas inside the package.

The packaging system as recited in the sixteenth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging system as recited in any one of thethirteenth through fifteenth aspects of the present invention, furthercomprising a postprocessing checking apparatus that performspostprocessing checking of the package.

In this packaging system, a postprocessing apparatus is disposed thatperforms postprocessing of the package; however, because the packagesgenerally are reliably inflated to a desired state by the thermalapplication unit, processing in the postprocessing apparatus isfacilitated. For example, if the postprocessing apparatus is a sealchecker that inspects whether the seal in the packaging apparatus passesor fails, then the package transits to an adequately inflated state dueto the thermal application unit by the time the package is transportedto the seal checker; consequently, it is possible with the seal checkerto always perform inspection of the package in an inflated state. Thus,the efficiency of the postprocessing apparatus can be improved, and itis therefore also possible to improve the operating ratio of the entirepackaging system.

The packaging system as recited in the seventeenth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging system as recited in the sixteenth aspect,further comprising a control unit. The control unit controls the gastemperature modifying unit based on detection information produced bythe postprocessing checking apparatus.

In this packaging system, the detection information and thepostprocessing apparatus is sent to the control unit, and the controlunit controls the gas temperature modifying unit based on this detectioninformation. Thereby, the gas temperature modifying unit can do thingsso that gas of an optimal temperature is sealed in the package, makingit easy to perform processing in the postprocessing apparatus.

The packaging system as recited in the eighteenth aspect of the presentinvention is the packaging system as recited in the sixteenth aspect,further comprising the control unit. The control unit controls thethermal application unit based on detection information produced by inthe postprocessing checking apparatus.

In this packaging system, the detection information in thepostprocessing apparatus is sent to the control unit, and the controlunit controls the thermal application unit based on this detectioninformation. Thereby, the thermal application unit can apply heat of anoptimal temperature to the package, making processing in thepostprocessing apparatus easier to perform.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exterior view of the vertical bag manufacturing andpackaging apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the vertical bag manufacturing andpackaging apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the former.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the former, a gas supply unit, anda cooling unit.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of the packaging operation.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram that depicts the packaging systemaccording to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of the packaging system according tothe second embodiment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

FIG. 1 depicts an exterior view of a vertical bag manufacturing andpackaging apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. This vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 isan apparatus that manufactures a product wherein foodstuffs (e.g.,potato chips) are sealed in a bag together with an inert gas, such asnitrogen or argon. The vertical bag manufacturing and packagingapparatus 1 manufactures a product by packing a bag with foodstuffs andthe like together with an inert gas and the like, while manufacturingthe bag from a film, and then sealing the bag. Furthermore, thefoodstuffs and the like drop down after being weighed in a weighingapparatus 2 provided above the vertical bag manufacturing and packagingapparatus 1.

FIG. 2 depicts the constitution of the vertical bag manufacturing andpackaging apparatus 1. The vertical bag manufacturing and packagingapparatus 1 principally comprises a bag manufacturing and packaging unit3, which is the main body that packs the foodstuffs and the like in abag, a film feeder 4 that supplies this bag manufacturing and packagingunit 3 with a film F that will be turned into bags, a gas supply unit 5(refer to FIG. 4) that supplies the gas bagged together with thefoodstuffs and the like, a cooling unit 6 (refer to FIG. 4) that coolsthis gas, and a control unit 7 (refer to FIG. 6) that controls eachpart.

The film feeder 4 supplies sheet film F to a former 30 of the bagmanufacturing and packaging unit 3, discussed later. A roll, whereuponthe film F is rolled, is set on this film feeder 4, and the film F ispaid out from this roll.

The bag manufacturing and packaging unit 3 comprises a former 30 thattubularly forms the sheet fed film F, pull down belt mechanisms 31 thattransport the tubularly formed film Fmc (hereinbelow, referred to as thetubular film Fmc) downward, a longitudinal sealing mechanism 32 thatlongitudinally seals the overlapped portion of the tubular film Fmc, atransverse sealing mechanism 33 that closes off the upper and lower endsof the bag by transversely sealing the tubular film Fmc, a pair ofironing parts 34 (refer to FIG. 5), and a discharge chute 35.

The former 30 tubularly forms the sheet fed film F, and introduces thegas, and the foodstuffs and the like inside the tubular film Fmc. Theformer 30 comprises a tube 300, and a shoulder 301, as shown in FIG. 3.

The tube 300 is a cylindrical member, open at the upper and lower ends.The tube 300 is integrated with the shoulder 301 via a bracket (notshown). Because the weighed foodstuffs and the like are fed from theweighing apparatus 2 into the upper end opening of this tube 300, thetube 300 is conical with a wider upper end opening. The lower end of thetube 300 plunges inside the film F formed in a tubular shape, andfoodstuffs and the like are introduced into the film F. In addition, asshown in FIG. 4, a long plate material 302 is vertically provided on theinner side of the tube 300 spanning from the vicinity of the upper partto the lower end of the tube 300, and a gas passageway 303 is formedextending vertically between the plate material 302 and the innersurface of the tube 300. This gas passageway 303 is provided for thepurpose of substituting the air inside the bag shaped film with gas. Theupper end of this gas passageway 303 is closed by the bending of theplate material 302 and its connection to the inner surface of the upperpart of the tube 300. In addition, at the upper part of the tube 300, anentrance 304 is formed that passes through to the upper part of the gaspassageway 303, and to which a gas supply pipe is connected. The lowerpart of the gas passageway 303 is open and reaches the lower end of thetube 300.

The shoulder 301 is arranged so that it surrounds the tube 300. Thisshoulder 301 is shaped so that the sheet film F fed from the film feeder4 is tubularly formed when it passes between the shoulder 301 and thetube 300.

The pull down belt mechanism 31 is a mechanism that applies suction tothe film F wound around the tube 300, and transports the film Fdownward. There are two such mechanisms that interpose the tube 300, asshown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The pull down belt mechanism 31 principallycomprises a drive roller 310, a follower roller 311, and a belt 312comprising a suction function.

The longitudinal sealing mechanism 32 is a mechanism that longitudinallyseals the overlapping portion of the film F wound around the tube 300 byheating the portion while pressing it against the tube 300 with aconstant pressure. This longitudinal sealing mechanism 32 comprises aheater (not shown), a heater belt (not shown) that is heated by theheater and contacts the overlapping portion of the film F, and the like.

The transverse sealing mechanism 33 is arranged below the former 30, thepull down belt mechanisms 31, and the longitudinal sealing mechanism 32.The transverse sealing mechanism 33 comprises a left-right symmetricalpair of sealing jaws 330, as shown in FIG. 5. The two sealing jaws 330revolve in approximate D shapes while describing mutually symmetrictrajectories T, and press together when transversely sealing the tubularfilm Fmc.

In addition, a cutter (not shown) is built into the transverse sealingmechanism 33. The cutter cuts off and separates the product B and thefollowing tubular film Fmc at the center position of the portion sealedby the sealing jaws 330.

Furthermore, the transverse sealing mechanism 33 crimps the portion tobe transversely sealed by interposing the tubular film Fmc between thesealing jaws 330, but heat is necessary in addition to pressure in orderto perform the sealing. Consequently, in order for the contact surfacesof the sealing jaws 330 that contact the tubular film Fmc to apply heat,a thermocouple thermometer with a built-in heater is attached to eachsealing jaw 330.

Immediately before the sealing jaws 330 of the transverse sealingmechanism 33 transversely seal the tubular film Fmc, the pair of ironingparts 34 interpose from both sides and iron the portion of the tubularfilm Fmc to be transversely sealed by the sealing jaws 330 of thetransverse sealing mechanism 33 (hereinbelow, referred to as thetransverse seal portion), and the vicinity thereof. Each ironing part 34is arranged below a sealing jaw 330, and both ironing parts 34 revolvein an approximate D shape while describing mutually symmetrictrajectories T, the same as the two sealing jaws 330 of the transversesealing mechanism 33. The drive for this revolving motion serves doubleduty as the drive for the transverse sealing mechanism 33.

As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge chute 35 is provided below thetransverse sealing mechanism 33, and guides the product B cut andseparated from the following tubular film Fmc by means of the cutter ofthe transverse sealing mechanism 33 onto a belt conveyor (not shown)that transports the product B to the downstream process. This dischargechute 35 is something like a slide made from a metal plate and the like,and uses gravity to guide the bag to the belt conveyor.

The gas supply unit 5 is an apparatus that feeds an inert gas, such asnitrogen or argon, to the gas passageway 303 of the former 30, andsupplies the gas to the tubular film Fmc. As shown in FIG. 4, the gassupply unit 5 comprises a regulator 50, a flow meter 51, a connector 52,and hoses and the like that connect each of the parts.

The regulator 50 is an apparatus that is connected to a gas cylinderfilled with the gas, reduces the pressure of the gas that dischargesfrom the gas cylinder, and adjusts that pressure to a constant pressure.The gas depressurized by the regulator is then sent to the connector 52.The flow meter 51 is provided between the regulator 50 and the connector52, and enables the operator and the like of the vertical bagmanufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 to view the flow rate of the gassent to the connector 52. The connector 52 is connected to the coolingunit 6, discussed later, the gas supply unit 5, and the former 30. Inaddition, the gas that was sent from the gas cylinder is first sent tothe cooling unit 6, and the gas that returns cooled is then sent to theformer 30.

The cooling unit 6 cools the gas sent to the tubular film Fmc via thegas passageway 303 of the former 30. The cooling unit 6 cools the gassent from the gas cylinder via the connector 52 to a temperature lowerthan the outside air, and then sends it once again to the gas passageway303 of the former 30 via the connector 52. In addition, the cooling unit6 is provided with an adjustment knob 60, and the cooling temperature ofthe gas can be adjusted by manually rotating the adjustment knob 60.Furthermore, the connector 52 has a dual structure; the gas beforecooling and the gas after cooling are divided and respectively sent toseparate passageways.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 7 is connected to the film feeder 4and the bag manufacturing and packaging unit 3 of the vertical bagmanufacturing and packaging apparatus 1, and controls the operation ofall the drive units.

The control unit 7 controls the revolve speed of the sealing jaws 330and the ironing parts 34 of the transverse sealing mechanism 33, and theoperation of pressing the sealing jaws 330 against the tubular film Fmc,in accordance with the downward feed speed of the tubular film Fmc bythe pull down belt mechanisms 31. In addition, the control unit 7controls the operation of each drive unit of the vertical bagmanufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 based on the content inputtedfrom an operation switch 8 (refer to FIG. 1), and displays variousinformation on a liquid crystal display 9 (refer to FIG. 1).

Operation

The following explains an overview of the operation of the vertical bagmanufacturing and packaging apparatus 1, based principally on FIG. 2.

The sheet film F sent from the film feeder 4 to the former 30 istubularly formed by wrapping it around the tube 300 from the shoulder301, and is then transported downward as is by the pull down beltmechanisms 31. Further, the film F transits to a state wherein both endparts overlap on the circumferential surface in a state wrapped aroundthe tube 300, and that overlapped portion is longitudinally sealed bythe longitudinal sealing mechanism 32.

The tubular film Fmc that has been longitudinally sealed andcylindrically shaped comes off the tube 300 and descends to thetransverse sealing mechanism 33. At this time, the position of thetubular film Fmc is indicated by the double dashed chain line. Inaddition, simultaneously with the motion of the tubular film Fmc at thistime, an aggregate of foodstuffs and the like drop down from theweighing apparatus 2 through the tube 300.

In addition, in parallel with the dropping of the foodstuffs downward,gas that has been cooled by the cooling unit 6 to a prescribedtemperature is supplied to the tubular film Fmc through the gaspassageway 303. The supply of the gas will be explained based on FIG. 4.

Gas discharged from the gas cylinder is sent to the regulator 50 througha hose. The gas is depressurized in the regulator 50, adjusted to aconstant pressure, and sent to the connector 52 (the arrow A1 and thearrow A2). Furthermore, the operator of the vertical bag manufacturingand packaging apparatus 1 can view the flow meter 51 and adjustbeforehand the flow rate of the gas sent to the connector 52. The gas issent through the connector 52 to the cooling unit 6, and cooled (thearrow A3). Furthermore, the operator of the vertical bag manufacturingand packaging apparatus 1 can set the cooling temperature beforehand bythe adjustment knob 60 of the cooling unit 6. The cooled gas is sent tothe former 30 (the arrow A4), passes through the gas passageway 303 (thearrow A5), and discharged from the tip of the former 30 into the tubularfilm Fmc.

When the tubular film Fmc is filled with the gas, and foodstuffs and thelike, the tubular film Fmc is sealed, and a bag is thereby formed. Theoperation at this time will be explained based on FIG. 5.

The lower end and the upper end portions of the bag are transverselysealed sequentially in the transverse sealing mechanism 33 in a statewherein the foodstuffs and the like, and the gas at a temperature lowerthan the outside air are present inside the tubular film Fmc. Inaddition, immediately before transverse sealing, ironing processing isperformed that irons the portion to be tubularly transversely sealed,and the vicinity thereof. The sealing jaws 330 and the ironing parts 34of the transverse sealing mechanism 33 revolve along approximately Dshaped trajectories T. Furthermore, in the first half of a lineartrajectory portion of the approximately D shaped trajectories T, theironing parts 34 press the foodstuffs and the like downward by ironingthe transverse seal portion and the portion in the vicinity thereof. Inaddition, in the latter half of the linear trajectory portion of theapproximately D shaped trajectories T, the sealing jaws 330 interposethe transverse seal portion of the tubular film Fmc, and thermoseal thetransverse seal portion by means of heat and pressure. At this time, thecutters built into the sealing jaws 330 simultaneously perform cuttingprocessing. The cutters cut the substantially center of the transverseseal portion. Thereby, the bag is cut off from the following tubularfilm Fmc, and separated as the product B. The separated product B slidesdown the discharge chute 35 onto the belt conveyor, and is transportedto an apparatus, such as a checker, in the downstream process.

The product B manufactured in this fashion is sealed with foodstuffs andthe like, and gas having a temperature lower than the outside air.Consequently, the temperature of the gas inside the product B isaffected by the temperature of the outside air with the passage of time,and rises, and the gas therefore expands. When the gas expands, theproduct B inflates, thus increasing its thickness. In so doing, asufficiently inflated product B is manufactured.

Characteristics

In this vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1, thethickness of the product B to be manufactured can be adjusted byadjusting the temperature of the gas cooled by the cooling unit 6. Inother words, the cooled gas with which the bag is filled is affected bythe temperature of the outside air, and its temperature rises. The gaswhose temperature has risen expands, thereby increasing its volume. Thebag filled with gas, and foodstuffs and the like is sealed, and inflatesattendant with the increase in the volume of the gas. Consequently, thethickness of the product B increases. Furthermore, to further increasethe thickness of the product B, gas of the same volume should be furthercooled to a lower temperature, and the bag then should be sealed; if itis desired to suppress an increase in the thickness of the product B,then the cooling temperature of the gas should conversely be restricted.Thus, by adjusting the cooling temperature of the gas when filling thetubular film Fmc, the vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus1 can adjust the amount of change in the volume of the gas after the bagis filled, and therefore can adjust the thickness of the product B.

If ironing processing is performed wherein the transverse seal portionof the tubular film Fmc is ironed immediately before transverse sealing,then it is possible to prevent foodstuffs and the like from beingsandwiched in the seal portion, producing a defective product. However,if such ironing processing is performed, then, in a conventionalpackaging apparatus, the gas unfortunately escapes from between thetransverse seal portion and the ironing parts 34, making it difficult tomanufacture a sufficiently inflated product B. However, according tothis vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1, the cooledgas expands after the product B is manufactured and the product B canthereby be inflated, even if a portion of the gas escapes during theironing processing. Thus, this vertical bag manufacturing and packagingapparatus 1 can manufacture a sufficiently inflated product B whilepreventing foodstuffs and the like from being caught by the ironingprocessing.

This vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 can adjust thethickness of the product B just by passing the gas sent to the tubularfilm Fmc through the cooling unit 6. Accordingly, the thickness of theproduct B can be adjusted by a simple configuration for cooling the gas.For example, compared with the case wherein a mechanism is provided forremoving gas, such as the air bleeder plate in the packaging apparatusdisclosed in Japanese Published Patent Application No. Hei 11-171110,such a mechanism is not needed, and the thickness can be adjusted with asimple configuration for adjusting the temperature. In addition,compared with the case wherein the injection of gas is divided into aninitial injection of a small amount and a later injection as in thepackaging apparatus disclosed in Japanese Published Patent ApplicationNo. Hei 11-292019, control in the vertical bag manufacturing andpackaging apparatus 1 is simple, and is accomplished just by regulatingthe cooling temperature of the cooling unit.

In this vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1, theprocedure for removing the gas in order to adjust the thickness of theproduct B is not needed, and the speed of manufacture of the product Bcan thereby be increased. In addition, the operating ratio can beimproved along with the increased manufacturing speed of the product B.Furthermore, it is not necessary for the operator to perform theoperation of removing the gas from the bag in order to adjust thethickness of the product B, and the burden on the operator can therebybe lightened.

Second Embodiment

In addition to the constitution of the vertical bag manufacturing andpackaging apparatus 1 (the packaging apparatus) described in the firstembodiment, a packaging system 100 of the present embodiment comprises athermostatic chamber 11 (the thermal application unit) and a sealchecker 10 (the postprocessing apparatus), as shown in FIG. 8.Furthermore, only a portion of the constitution of the vertical bagmanufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 is illustrated in FIG. 8 tofacilitate understanding.

The thermostatic chamber 11 applies heat to the product B (the package)manufactured by the vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus1, the gas sealed inside the product B is expanded, thus inflating theproduct B. The inside of the thermostatic chamber 11 is maintained at aprescribed temperature higher than that of the external temperature. Theproduct B is warmed by passing through the inside of the thermostaticchamber 11. Accordingly, the gas sealed inside the product B is warmedto a temperature approximately the same level as the outside air in ashort time. Furthermore, instead of the thermostatic chamber 11 depictedin FIG. 8, it is also possible to adopt a hot air shower that appliesheat to the product B by blowing hot air against the product B.

The seal checker 10 is a mechanism that checks whether the seal of theproduct B manufactured in the vertical bag manufacturing and packagingapparatus 1 is defective, and principally comprises a servomotor 10 a, apressing member 10 b, and the like. The servomotor 10 a brings thepressing member 10 b into contact with the product B, and separates thepressing member 10 b from the product B. The pressing member 10 bpresses the product B by the servomotor 10 a bringing the pressingmember 10 b into contact with the product B. When the pressing member 10b presses the product B, the seal checker 10 detects the bag height ofthe product B (the thickness of the product B), and judges whether theseal is defective based on the displacement quantity of that detectedvalue. In addition, the detection information related to the bag heightof the product B detected by the seal checker 10 is sent to the controlunit 7 (refer to FIG. 9) that manages the control of the vertical bagmanufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 and the thermostatic chamber 11.

The control unit 7 depicted in FIG. 9 controls the cooling unit 6 andthe thermostatic chamber 11 based on the detection information in theseal checker 10. In other words, taking into consideration the ease ofperforming the checking operation with the seal checker 10, the controlunit 7 controls the cooling temperature of the gas by means of thecooling unit 6 (the gas temperature modifying unit) based on thedetection information in the seal checker 10 so that the bag height ofthe product B is optimized. Furthermore, the cooling unit 6 is hereinconstituted substantially the same as the cooling unit 6 in the firstembodiment, but can automatically adjust the quantity of gas by a drivemechanism, such as a motor, and can adjust the quantity of gas by thecontrol unit 7 controlling the drive mechanism. In addition, taking intoconsideration the ease of the checking operation in the seal checker 10,the control unit 7 controls the thermostatic chamber 11 based on thedetection information in the seal checker 10. If the hot air shower isused instead of the thermostatic chamber 11, then the control unit 7controls the temperature of the hot air blown against the product Bbased on the detection information in the seal checker 10.

Furthermore, the control unit 7 may also be one wherein all of theapparatuses are provided separately and are connected by a communicationline, or may be constituted by independent control units separatelyarranged in each apparatus and a central control unit that providesoverall central control of the control unit of each of the apparatuses.

The following explains an outline of the packaging operation by thepackaging system 100, based on FIG. 8.

First, the same as in the first embodiment, the product B ismanufactured by the vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1wherein foodstuffs and the like, and gas at a temperature lower than theoutside air are sealed inside a bag.

The product B separated from the following film F is discharged from thevertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1, and transported tothe thermostatic chamber 11 by the belt conveyors CV. The product Btransported to the thermostatic chamber 11 is heated while passingthrough the inside of the thermostatic chamber 11. Furthermore, heatingof the product B promotes the expansion of the gas sealed in the productB. Consequently, the gas inside the product B is warmed to a temperatureclose to the outdoor temperature in a short time, and the product Binflates to the desired state while passing through the thermostaticchamber 11. Thereby, the appropriate product B height is obtained.

The product B discharged from the thermostatic chamber 11 is transportedto the seal checker 10 by the belt conveyors CV. The seal checker 10checks whether there is a seal defect in the product B by comparing thedisplacement quantity of the bag height of the product B with a standardvalue when the product B is pressed by the pressing member 10 b. If theproduct B is a proper product, then processing is performed such asfurther transporting the product B, packing it in a box, and the like.Even in postprocessing like boxing, it is easy to process the product Bthat has passed through the thermostatic chamber 11 and is already anappropriate height.

In addition, the detection information related to the bag height of theproduct B detected by the seal checker 10 is transmitted to the controlunit 7, and used in feedback control of the cooling unit 6 and thethermostatic chamber 11. Thereby, the temperature in the cooling unit 6and the thermostatic chamber 11 is more appropriately controlled.

In this packaging system 100, the thermostatic chamber 11 is providedbetween the vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 and theseal checker 10, and the product B is warmed while being transportedbetween the vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 and theseal checker 10. Consequently, the product B can be inflated in a shorttime to the desired bag height by the time it is transported to the sealchecker 10. Thereby, in this packaging system 100, the product B, whoseheight has become appropriate, can be easily processed withcomparatively few errors in the seal checker 10 and other postprocessingapparatuses after bag manufacturing and packaging processing, therebyenabling an improvement in the operating ratio of the production line ofthe vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 and the like.

Because this packaging system 100 is provided with the seal checker 10as a postprocessing apparatus that performs postprocessing on theproduct B, it is possible to rapidly obtain data like the bag height ofthe product B in an inflated state after heat has been applied from thethermostatic chamber 11.

Furthermore, in this packaging system 100, the seal defect detectioninformation in the seal checker 10 is sent to the control unit 7, andthe control unit 7 controls the thermostatic chamber 11 and the coolingunit 6 based on this detection information. Thereby, it is possible toperform more appropriate control of the thermostatic chamber 11 and thecooling unit 6.

Other Embodiments

In the abovementioned first embodiment, the gas is cooled through thecooling unit 6 before being sent to the former 30; however, it is alsoacceptable to provide a mechanism that cools the gas passageway 303 ofthe former 30, and to cool the gas when it passes through the gaspassageway 303. Furthermore, it is also acceptable to provide amechanism that cools the shoulder 301 of the former 30, and to cool thegas when it passes through the shoulder 301.

In the abovementioned first embodiment, the gas is cooled directly bythe cooling unit 6, but the gas may also be cooled indirectly. In otherwords, it is also acceptable to cool the gas by cooling an object thatis in contact with the gas, and then transmitting the temperature ofthat object to the gas. For example, the gas inside the bag may becooled by cooling the foodstuffs and the like that the bag is filledwith, cooling the film F before and after tubularly forming the film Fwith the former 30, and so on.

In the abovementioned first embodiment, the gas is introduced inside thetubular film Fmc after being cooled; however, it is also acceptable toreverse the order of the cooling of the gas with the introduction intothe tubular film Fmc. In other words, it is also acceptable to firstintroduce room temperature gas into the tubular film Fmc, then cool thegas for each tubular film Fmc, and subsequently seal the tubular filmFmc. Even if the product B is manufactured in this order, it is possibleto manufacture the product B wherein gas having a temperature differentfrom the outside air is sealed.

In the abovementioned first embodiment, the cooling of the gas inflatesthe product B; however, it is also conversely possible to shrink theproduct B by warming the gas. In addition, it is also possible toflexibly increase and decrease the thickness of the product B using bothcooling and warming.

In the abovementioned first embodiment, it is also acceptable for thecontrol unit 7 to control the gas supply unit 5 and the cooling unit 6,making it possible to automatically control the temperature and thedischarge amount of the gas, as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, thethickness of the product B is controlled by controlling the temperatureand the discharge amount of the gas, taking into consideration the sizeof the bag being manufactured, the size and shape of the foodstuffs andthe like that the bag is filled with, and the outside air temperature.Thereby, the thickness of the product B can be automatically controlled.

In the abovementioned first embodiment, the vertical bag manufacturingand packaging apparatus 1 utilized by the present invention packs inbags the foodstuffs and the like along with gas and the like whilemanufacturing the bag from the film F; however, the present inventionmay also be utilized in a bag feeding and packaging apparatus thatsupplies pre-manufactured bags, and seals those bags with foodstuffs andthe like, and gas.

In the abovementioned second embodiment, the gas supply unit 5 and thecooling unit 6 are treated as a part of the vertical bag manufacturingand packaging apparatus 1; however, it is also possible to treat them asoutside of the vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1 orseparate from the vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 1if there is a cooled gas supply apparatus (gas supply unit 5, coolingunit 6).

If the packaging apparatus and the packaging method according to thepresent invention are used, then it is possible to adjust the thicknessof a package with a simple configuration.

1. A packaging apparatus that manufactures a package wherein foodstuffarticle to be packaged and an inert gas are sealed in a packagingmaterial, comprising: an introducing unit through which the article tobe packaged and the gas are supplied to the packaging material formed ina tubular shape; a first sealing mechanism that seals the tubularpackaging material to manufacture a package containing the article andthe gas; and a control unit that is configured to adjust the temperatureand amount of the gas in the sealed package so that a prescribedthickness of the sealed package is achieved based upon the differencebetween the temperature of the outside air and the temperature of thegas by setting the temperature of the gas in the packaging material at atemperature lower than that of the outside air when said first sealingmechanism seals the tubular package material, the control unit beingfurther configured to receive postprocessing information relating to astate of the package after the package is manufactured by the packagingapparatus and to perform a feedback control of the temperature of thegas in a subsequently manufactured package based on the postprocessinginformation.
 2. The packaging apparatus as recited in claim 1,comprising: a gas temperature modifying unit that changes a temperatureof a gas.
 3. The packaging apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein thegas temperature modifying unit changes the temperature of the gas bychanging the temperature of the article to be packaged.
 4. The packagingapparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the gas temperature modifyingunit changes the temperature of the gas by changing the temperature ofthe packaging material.
 5. The packaging apparatus as recited in claim2, wherein the gas temperature modifying unit changes the temperature ofthe gas by changing the temperature of said introducing unit.
 6. Thepackaging apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising: a forming unitthat tubularly forms the packaging material; and a gas temperaturemodifying unit that changes the temperature of the gas by changing thetemperature of said forming unit.
 7. The packaging apparatus as recitedin claim 1, further comprising: a pair of smoothing parts that smoothesa portion of the packaging material to be sealed, and a vicinitythereof.
 8. The packaging apparatus as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: a transporting unit that transports the tubular packagingmaterial downward; and a second sealing unit tat seals a longitudinaledge of the tubular packaging material, the longitudinal edge beingparallel to the transport direction of the transported flexiblepackaging material, the direction in which the first sealing mechanismseals the tubular packaging material is perpendicular to the transportdirection.
 9. A packaging method for manufacturing a package wherein afood stuff article to be packaged and an inert gas are sealed in apackaging material, comprising steps of: providing a tubular packagingmaterial; supplying the article to be packaged in the tubular packagingmaterial; supplying the gas in the tubular packaging material; sealingthe tubular packaging material to manufacture a package containing thearticle and the gas; adjusting a temperature and an amount of the gassupplied to the package before or after the supplying of the gas in thetubular packaging material so that a prescribed thickness of the sealedpackage is achieved based upon the difference between the temperature ofthe outside air and the temperature of the gas; setting the temperatureof the gas in the packaging material at a temperature lower than that ofthe outside air when the gas and the article to be packaged are sealed;receiving postprocessing information relating to a state of the packageafter the package is manufactured; and performing a feedback control ofthe temperature of the gas in a subsequently manufactured package basedon the postprocessing information received.
 10. A packaging system,comprising: a packaging apparatus that manufactures a package wherein afoodstuff article to be packaged and an inert gas are sealed in apackaging material, the packaging apparatus including an introducingunit through which the article to be packaged and the gas are suppliedto the packaging material formed in a tubular shape; and a first sealingmechanism that seals the tubular packaging material to produce a packagecontaining the article and the gas; a gas temperature modifying unitthat adjusts the temperature and amount of the gas supplied to thepackage before the gas is sealed in the package so that a prescribedthickness of the sealed package is achieved based upon the differencebetween the temperature of the outside air and the temperature of thegas; a postprocessing checking apparatus that performs postprocessingchecking of the package; and a control unit that is configured to setthe temperature of the gas at a temperature lower than that of theoutside air when the gas and the article to be packaged are sealed andto perform a feedback control of said gas temperature modifying unitbased on detection information produced by said postprocessing checkingapparatus.
 11. The packaging system as recited in claim 10, furthercomprising: a thermal application unit that performs thermal applicationprocessing on the manufactured package.
 12. The packaging system asrecited in claim 11, wherein said thermal application unit has athermostatic chamber that warms the package.
 13. The packaging system asrecited in claim 11, wherein said thermal application unit blows hot aironto the package.
 14. The packaging system as recited in claim 10,wherein the control unit is further configured to control said thermalapplication unit based on detection information produced by saidpostprocessing checking apparatus.
 15. A packaging apparatus thatmanufactures a package wherein foodstuff article to be packaged and aninert gas are sealed in a packaging material, comprising: an introducingunit through which the article to be packaged and the gas are suppliedto the packaging material formed in a tubular shape; a first sealingmechanism that seats the tubular packaging material to manufacture apackage containing the article and the gas; an outside air temperatureacquisition unit that detects the temperature of the air outside thesealed package; and an adjustment unit that sets the temperature of thegas based upon the outside air temperature detected by the outside airtemperature acquisition unit, and sets the amount of the gas supplied tothe package so that a prescribed thickness of the sealed package isachieved based upon the difference between the temperature of theoutside air and the temperature of the gas, the adjustment unit furtherreceives postprocessing information relating to a state of the packageafter the package is manufactured and performs a feedback control of thetemperature of the gas in a subsequently manufactured package based onthe postprocessing information.